(CNN) - Secretary of State John Kerry will head to Capitol Hill this week to testify on negotiations to curb Iran's nuclear ambitions as some members of Congress push harder for new sanctions with the latest round of talks failing to produce an agreement.

Kerry will meet with members of the Senate Banking Committee, a committee aide said. The session on Wednesday will be closed, a senior State Department official said.

Washington (CNN) - America's top diplomat dismissed concerns Sunday that the Obama administration was not being skeptical enough while the U.S. negotiates with Iran over its continued enrichment of uranium, activity widely assumed to be supporting a nuclear weapons program.

Secretary of State John Kerry emphatically told David Gregory on NBC's "Meet the Press" Sunday that "we are not blind, and I don't think we're stupid" when it comes to Iranian President Hassan Rouhani's past claims that he could game the Western world in brokered talks while his nation continued to pursue its nuclear ambitions.

Washington (CNN) - After three days of talks focused on halting Iran's uranium enrichment efforts broke down Sunday morning, Sen. Lindsey Graham said Congress would not wait for the next round of negotiations.

Graham said he intends to put forward a measure that would mandate more sanctions on Iran, aimed at forcing the Middle Eastern nation to dismantle its nuclear weapons program - a move that runs counter to the interim steps sought by the negotiating parties gathered in Geneva, Switzerland.

Washington (CNN) – National Security Adviser Susan Rice on Friday described the first phone call between an American president and his Iranian counterpart in more than three decades as “cordial” and “constructive.”

Rice told CNN’s Fareed Zakaria that the Iranian delegation approached the Obama administration about a phone call between President Barack Obama and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani.FULL POST

Washington (CNN) - President Barack Obama spoke by telephone with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, the first direct conversation between leaders of the United States and Iran since 1979.

Obama believes a comprehensive agreement is possible regarding Iran's nuclear ambitions, telling reporters at the White House that "the test will be meaningful, transparent and verifiable action" and if proven would ease international sanctions in place against Iran.

Washington (CNN ) – Sen. Ted Cruz joined about 20 protesters and members of different Christian churches outside the White House Thursday to pray for the swift return of an American pastor being held in Iran, reportedly for his Christian beliefs.

Pastor Saeed Abedini has been held in Iran and Thursday marked the one year anniversary of his detention.FULL POST

Washington (CNN) - Several leaders in the American Jewish community cautiously embraced President Barack Obama's call to engage in dialogue with the Iranian government however expressed much skepticism over whether President Hassan Rouhani can be trusted.

Preventing Iran from advancing its nuclear program – and possibly gaining a nuclear bomb – is one of the top priorities for Israel and for American-Jewish leaders.FULL POST

(CNN) - There's "no way" President Barack Obama should meet with newly-elected Iranian President Hassan Rouhani at the United National General Assembly this week, former Sen. Rick Santorum said Tuesday.

"The president of the United States should never meet with someone who's not the president of their country," Santorum said on CNN's "New Day," arguing that the Ayatollah is the person who leads Iran.FULL POST